Our God alone intercedes for us
For the one these things are spoken about belonged to a different tribe. No one from it has served at the altar. Now it is evident that our Lord came from Judah, and Moses said nothing about that tribe concerning priests. Hebrews 7:13-14 CSB
Closing this small section on Jesus establishing the new priesthood, the author of Hebrews preemptively addresses the concern that some may voice out in that Jesus did not come from the designated tribe to be a high priest, since the only tribe allocated for the role to enter the holy of holies and serve “at the altar” were the tribe of Levi. Yet, “the One these things are spoken about belonged to a different tribe.” David and Solomon both came from the line of Judah and offered sacrifices to the Lord, but these were special occasions and not regular duties that were performed unlike Aaron and the Levites. We see in verse 14 that Jesus is from the line of Judah, which is also mentioned in Matthew 2:6, “But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.” Also, centuries earlier, there is an ample proof that the Lord Jesus Christ has been prophesied to be the High Priest coming from the line of Melchizedek. “‘The Lord has sworn an oath and will not take it back: ‘You are a priest forever according to the pattern of Melchizedek’” (Psalm 110:4). Therefore, Jesus became the High Priest of a completely new priesthood apart from the genealogical line, one that became corrupted due to sin. And, as we see in the latter half of verse 14, “Moses said nothing about that tribe concerning priests.” It may have astounded the author’s readers, seeing God’s plan firsthand. So, Jesus being divinely set apart from to be our eternal and perfect High Priest means that He was and is able to fulfill ministry on earth and in heaven. Jesus goes beyond the holy of holies and is in the presence of God the Father on our behalf. Jesus directly gives us access to God, as seen in John 14:6, “‘Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’” Jesus, as a descendant of David, did not come here on earth to established and earthly kingdom but a heavenly kingdom: its nature is spiritual, thus, it is eternal. Christ is the only One who can intercede for us for “we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens—Jesus the Son of God—let us hold fast to our confession…Therefore, let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in time of need” (Hebrews 4:14, 16).
Blessings,
Isaac De Guzman
